In vitro detection of fatty liver infiltration in protein-depleted rats using proton nuclear magnetic resonance

To determine if NMR techniques might be used to detect hepatic steatosis secondary to protein malnutrition, the T₁ and T₂ relaxation times of liver tissue from rats subjected to long-term protein malnutrition were measured in vitro. The liver tissue from rats fed a protein-deficient rat chow (PD) for 37 days (N = 9) was characterized by increased proportion of fat (P < 0.001) but decreased water and nitrogen contents (P < 0.001) relative to controls (N = 9). Mean T₁ times were significantly shorter and T₂ times significantly longer in liver tissue from protein-depleted animals (P < 0.001). There was no overlap of T₂ times between the protein-depleted and control animals. The consistent changes in T₂ that occur with fatty infiltration of the liver should be detectable by current NMR imagers.